Stop the World: I Want to Get Off (1966)

The show, set against a circus backdrop, focuses on Littlechap from the moment of his birth until his death. Each time something unsatisfactory happens, he calls out 'Stop the world!' and addresses the audience.

Director:

Philip Saville

Writers:

Leslie Bricusse (book), Anthony Newley (book)

Stars:

Tony Tanner, Millicent Martin, Leila Croft

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Tanner	...	Little Chap
Millicent Martin	...	Evie / Anya / Ara / Ginnie
Leila Croft	...	Susan
Valerie Croft	...	Jane
Neil Hawley	...	Little Little Chap
Graham Lyons	...	Father-in-Law
Georgina Allen	...	Dancer / Singer
Natasha Ashton	...	Dancer / Singer
Sandra Burville	...	Dancer / Singer
Carlotta Barrow	...	Dancer / Singer
Vivyen Dunbar	...	Dancer / Singer
Katherina Holden	...	Dancer / Singer (as Katerina Holden)
Margaret Frost	...	Dancer / Singer
Ann Holloway	...	Dancer / Singer
Liz Gold	...	Dancer / Singer

Storyline

The lead in a British semi-improvisational musical theater troupe introduces the troupe's featured players - his wife, two adult daughters and adolescent son - as they rehearse for their next performance. That performance tells the story of Little Chap, a working class stiff, who marries the boss' daughter Evie because she is pregnant. He wouldn't have married her otherwise. As Evie is the boss' daughter, Little Chap, over the course of thirty-five years, is given opportunity after opportunity to enhance his professional life by his new father-in-law. In turn, Little Chap, being opportunistic, builds upon those experiences to try and be fulfilled both professionally and personally, rarely taking Evie and his burgeoning family into consideration despite the fact that they love him. At the end of those thirty-five years, he comes to an understanding of who he is and why he made the decisions in his life that he did.

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Plot Keywords:

based on stage musical | 

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Taglines:

EVERYBODY'S SEEING IT...Here's Why....It's Another Delightful Entertainment Innovation from Warner Bros. An Actual Performance With All the Great Songs and Fun That Thrilled London and New York for Years. A Once-in-a-Lifetime Broadway Musical in Your Own Movie Theatre!!

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Genres:

Musical

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway production of "Stop the World - I Want to Get Off" opened at the Shubert Theatre in New York City on October 3, 1962, and ran for 555 performances; and it was nominated for 1963 Tony Awards for Outstanding Musical, Distinguished Musical Actor, Best Composer and Lyricist, and Best Author (Musical).

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Gaos (1991)

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Soundtracks

Family Fugue/Nag Nag Nag
Written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
Performed by Millicent Martin and Tony Tanner and Chorus

User Reviews

A Great Musical

My wife and I put on our old VHS copy the other night (having not seen it for many years) and once more became totally absorbed in the production and Tony Tanner's performance. Some have called it outdated but it's pure theater with a theater-type experience as best as could be reproduced on screen. "World's" brilliance is that it's simple story combined with a magnificent score can hold audience captivated, no small achievement considering it is done in mime and soliloquy and performed within the confines of a small circular one-ring circus-type stage with no elaborate settings.

Just magnificent, not matter what generation.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 1966 (UK)

Also Known As:

地球を止めろ 俺は降りたい

Filming Locations:

Lyric Theatre - Lyric Square, King Street, Hammersmith, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1